Is anyone Escitalopram also known as Lexapr?

@kathyoung: I was prescribed 5 mg and it helped with recurrent anxiety immediately; Dr increased it to 10mg in a couple months and I have taken this drug for a several years (since cancer diagnosis). My grandson has taken it off &on for many years - only when in very stressful situations and had no effects when he stopped each time. I researched many anti-depressants and Escitalopram was reported as being not physically addictive. My health situation hit me hard and I was feeling sad all the time - normal reaction. My PCP talked to me about this drug and its safe effectiveness. It has helped me stay positive during treatments and just everyday - my disease is terminal, but I have had good response with tumor shrinkage. Some days I forget to take it and I feel ok all day, so in my case I don’t believe it is physically addictive (but anything can be physiologically addictive).
However, upon awakening I have experienced some weird effects. Sometimes I see things that look real but after a few seconds disappear! Now that I am aware of this I just blink several times and the illusion fades away. Kathy, Everyone has different chemical make-up, so I can only report that this drug works for me with one side-effect that I am willing to handle. dbamos1945

@kathyoung
I go to Mayo Jacksonville Psychiatric Division after being diagnosed with PTSD anxiety/panic disorder in 2015.

I was put on Escitalopram 10 mg in 2015. For me it took several weeks to help but it certainly did for me. Lexapro is brand name escitalopram is generic.

When I lost my two brothers-in-laws, my sister and both my nephews all in one year I was really worried I would go into depression or suffer anxiety/panic attack. I did not. I talked to my psychiatric medication specialist I see at Mayo clinic along with consultations. She advised me I did not go into significant depression because of the escitalopram.

I am sharing my experience with the drug with you. Like any drug it may or may not work the same for you as it worked for me. Be open to waiting for your body to react to any new medication.

Thank you so much. It’s comforting to know this drug works for others. I may need to change the dosage, however, once I’m up and get on with my day I am better than I was. The thoughts when wakening were concerning me, so good to know someone has had similar experience (and I’m not going crazy) 😉. I wish I could lose the feeling of dread when I wake up, maybe in time. Thanks again

I’ve been on lexapro for many years. I was taking 40 mg for severe depression and anxiety and it worked wonderfully. This summer I had to come off of it because I wasn’t able to take pills and I actually didn’t experience any withdrawal effects. I was on it at 20 mg since August angain and it stopped working so I’m getting off at the moment.

@kathyoung
My medication specialist asked me if I would like to increase my dosage if my depression, anxiety, stress was reaching a point where starting to affect my lifestyle.

I stated let me add to my exercise routine (had been slacking off) to see if that helps and get back with you. I picked up doing water aerobics again, riding my bike, swimming all do wonders to my well being and did not increase my dosage.

If you like a specific exercise try that (after checking with doctor if okay) to see if helps. Exercise creates endorphins which can help improve well-being. Do you have a hobby or think you might to try one? This can help with anxiety and stress.

I bring those to your attention as my medical providers really stress for me to continue my exercise and hobbies. When I don't do them my stress and anxiety soars. Just something to consider beyond increase or change in medications.

I take 20 mg of Lexapro everyday. I am not sure if it helps or not. I have chronic pain so I am always fighting depression. I tried to come off it . I was extremely dizzy. Could barely walk across floor. I take ativan and remeron. I don't think any antidepressants help me feel happier. But once I stopped them and it was a nighmare.

@yram
This comes from my Mayo medication psychiatric specialist not me giving medical advice.

When you take drugs like Lexapro they are intended to bring you back to normal level and will not bring you above that level.

You have chronic pain. My wife deals with that all the time and is on Lexapro also.

Can I mention to consider a hobby or exercise to help improve your depression and helping you feel better. Both release endorphins which have a hormonal affect for feelling good.

I know you mentioned chronic pain. I have an old herniated disk in my back. So I do water aerobics where I am chest high in water and almost no weight on my legs or back. I can exercise without aggravating my back. I totally enjoy it and do 5 days a week. When I miss a class I feel down so you can see where the endorphin play a role in this.

If you can't exercise or have access to a pool consider a hobby you would like to do. Then do it and it will help with moods and depression. I have posted many times that I have read about a dozen books on FDR. He was under tremendous stress during WWII. He would take time almost every day to work on his stamp collection which brought much needed stress relief.

You can read he also used the White House Pool (I think it was he who had it built) but was alwasy going to the hot water springs in GA. There he could get in water and be weightless which again brought him a lot of stress relief.

@jc76 Thank you for the positive feedback on Lexapro. Paxil stopped working for me and now i am on a slow taper to Lexapro. I’m hoping it works. Paxil is hard to taper off of so I’m dealing the the withdrawal but I feel I’m going in the right direction with Lexapro.
Mjdennis

@kathyoung: Kathy, I have dealt with chronic, seemingly unbearable pain, so I can relate to your feelings (Lower lumbar, bilateral kidney stones, cancer). We are each individuals and our chemical make-up different; therefore, our bodies react differently than perhaps our mds predicted. Please advocate for yourself - I have found my researching treatments before my md appt arm me with info regarding specific meds my dr suggests. We need docs that listen to us! Talk to your friends and peers about treatments available and even the md they are happy with. You are important and need best meds to relieve your pain as much as is possible. Best health ahead…
dbamos1945

@dbamos1945

Thank you so much. I do exercise, primarily because I need a knee replacement and I’m trying to keep the muscles and joints moving. I go to the gym and bike as well as do exercises for my shoulders BUT I have slacked off recently so I will get myself back there! It would be good if it helped the depression too. I had breast cancer a year ago as well, stage 1 with no lymph gland involvement, I was very lucky and I don’t think that contributed to the depression but maybe I’m fooling myself. I also lost my best friend to cancer in June. That has left a huge void in my life, she was a soul mate and I miss her terribly. Now that I’m writing this I guess it seems obvious, I just wish I could lose this feeling of nervousness I have all the time. I do have Adavan as well but I try not to take it often.
Thank you all for the support!